Additional Insured vs. Certificate Holder: The Difference That Protects You
The single most misunderstood part of a COI — and why being the certificate holder isn't enough.
Certificate holder ≠ covered
Being named the certificate holder on a COI means you received the document. It does not, by itself, give you any coverage under the vendor's policy. This is the most common and most dangerous misunderstanding in vendor insurance.
Additional insured is what protects you
To actually be protected by a vendor's policy, you need to be an additional insured via endorsement. Then, if a claim arises from the vendor's work, their insurer can defend and cover you. Always verify additional-insured status — not just that your name appears in the certificate holder box.
About the author
Rehan Shah — Founder, CoverSynx
I build CoverSynx, software that helps property managers and contractors keep track of their vendors' certificates of insurance. I'm not an insurance broker or a lawyer. These guides summarise published industry guidance and cite their sources — for advice on your own situation, speak to your broker.
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